second messenger

views updated Jun 08 2018

second messenger A chemical within a cell that is responsible for initiating the response to a signal from a chemical messenger (such as a hormone, neurotransmitter, or growth factor) that cannot enter the target cell itself, for example because it is not lipid-soluble and is therefore unable to cross the plasma membrane. A common second messenger is cyclic AMP; the signal for its formation within the cell is transmitted from hormone receptors on the cell surface by G protein. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (see inositol) and calcium ions are other examples of second messengers.

second messenger

views updated Jun 08 2018

second messenger n. an organic molecule that acts within a cell to initiate the response to a signal carried by a chemical messenger (e.g. a hormone) that does not itself enter the cell. Examples of second messengers are inositol triphosphate and cyclic AMP.